The reactions of 1,4-dichlorobut-2-yne with HS(CH2)(n)SH (n = 2-5) or
HS(CH2CH2S)(n)H(n = 2-3) or HSCH2CH(OH)CH2SH under high dilution condi
tions in industrial methylated spirits using KOH as the deprotonating
agent produce thiacycloalkynes in remarkably high yields when the 1 :
1 product is a nine-, ten- or 11-membered ring. 1,5-dithiacyclonon-7-y
ne, 1,5-dithiacyclonon-7-yne-3-ol, 1,6-dithiacyclodec-8-yne, 1,7-dithi
acycloundec-9-yne, 1,4,7-trithiacycloundec-9-yne and 1,7-dithia-4-oxa-
cycloundec-9-yne are pre pared in yields of 75%, 81%, 79%, 85%, 100% a
nd 95% respectively. The X-ray crystal structures of 1,4-dithiacyclooc
t-6-yne and 1,6-dithiacyclodec-8-yne have been determined. Selective c
oordination of the alkyne functionality is demonstrated by the reactio
n of 1,4,7,10-tetrathiacyclotetradec-12-yne with [Co-2(CO)(8)] to affo
rd a monoalkyne hexacarbonyldicobalt complex and by the reaction of 1,
4,7-trithiacycloundec-9-yne with [Mo(CO)(2)(S(2)CNMe(2))(2)] to afford
a bisalkynebis(dithiocarbamate)molybdenum complex. A base-catalysed r
earrangement of 1,4,7-trithiacycloundec-9-yne affords 2-enyl-1,4,7-tri
thiacyclonon-2-ene which is an effective ligand for Ag+.